Weapon Retrofitting Systems and Methods

ABSTRACT

A system allows remote triggering or firing of a weapon having a mechanical triggering or firing mechanism. The system can include at least one base, attachable to a weapon in a location adjacent a trigger of the weapon. At least one actuator is carried by the base, the actuator operable to engage the trigger of the weapon. At least one wireless controller is operable to actuate the actuator, the wireless controller being accessible by a system remote from the weapon.

PRIORITY CLAIM

Priority is claimed of and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/975,091, filed Feb. 11, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to systems that can be used to retrofit triggering mechanisms of weapons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a system for allowing remote triggering or firing of a weapon having a mechanical triggering or firing mechanism. In one aspect, the technology can include at least one base, attachable to a weapon in a location adjacent a trigger of the weapon. At least one actuator can be carried by the base, the actuator operable to engage the trigger of the weapon. At least one wireless controller can be operable to actuate the actuator. The wireless controller can be accessible by a user or user-controllable system remote from the weapon.

Various methods are also provided for retrofitting weapons using the present systems, operating (e.g., firing) weapons retrofitted with the present systems, and configuring and installing and removing such systems.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, relatively important features of the invention so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Other features of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of the invention, taken with the accompanying drawings and claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top, right, rear quarter view of a universal trigger in accordance with an embodiment of the technology;

FIG. 2 is a bottom, right, rear quarter view of a universal trigger in accordance with an embodiment of the technology;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a universal trigger in accordance with an embodiment of the technology;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a universal trigger in accordance with an embodiment of the technology;

FIG. 5 is a right side view of an exemplary M4 trigger and guard in accordance with a known weapon configuration;

FIG. 6 is a slightly enlarge right side view of the M4 trigger and guard of FIG. 5, shown with a universal trigger in accordance with the present technology partially installed therewith;

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the universal trigger installation of FIG. 6, shown more fully installed;

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the universal trigger installation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a right side view of a universal trigger installation in accordance with an embodiment of the technology, shown in a visually safe condition;

FIG. 10 is the universal trigger installation of FIG. 9, with a key shown installed within a locking mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a top, left, rear quarter of an exemplary universal trigger installation including exemplary communication ports with RJ45 and MIL connectors;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the installation of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a series of exploded views of various components of a universal trigger assembly in accordance with embodiments of the technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it should be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but is extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinarily skill in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting in any way.

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “controller” can, but does not necessarily, include one or more of such controllers.

Definitions

In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below.

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend upon the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained.

The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint.

Distances, angles, forces, weights, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited.

As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 inch to about 5 inches” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 inch to about 5 inches, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

The Invention

The present technology generally provides systems and methods that can be utilized to retrofit the triggering or firing mechanism of a conventional weapon to allow remote firing or triggering of the weapon. Systems in accordance with the present technology generally include a small, electromechanical device that can be easily attached to the trigger area of a weapon, thereby converting it into a “fire-by-wire” weapon, which can be operated remotely. The present system can include a GPS receiver and/or an Inertial Navigation Unit (INU), which allow for additional features.

Remote Access

The present system can provide a mechanism for remotely actuating the weapon trigger, allowing the remote use of the weapon mounted on a manned or unmanned vehicle, or mounted in a manned or unmanned emplacement. Remote actuation can be accomplished in a variety of manners, including the following electrical “fire-by-wire” methods:

-   -   1. Dry contacts     -   2. Serial data stream     -   3. Internet UDP packets

Such mechanisms can be powered, operated and associated with the present technology in a variety of manners appreciable by one of ordinary skill in the art having possession of this disclosure.

Reduce/Slow Human Access

Because the universal trigger of the present technology can be fitted and locked to the trigger area of the weapon, it also serves as a trigger lock, securing the trigger environment against access by unwanted personnel. While an enemy combatant may physically gain access to the weapon, the locked universal trigger will prevent access to the trigger and therefore prevent the enemy from firing the weapon. Even in the event an enemy combatant may forcibly remove the present universal trigger, such removal will generally take considerable time, will likely require tools, and may result in noise detectable by friendly troops.

Visually Indicates Weapon is Safe

When the present universal trigger is fitted and locked to the trigger area of the weapon, an optional safety mechanism may be employed. The safety lock thumbscrew, shown generally in red in FIGS. 1-4 and 9 and 10, is a thumbscrew with a red, plastic head, which can be screwed into the universal trigger. When so affixed, the thumbscrew shaft passes behind the weapon trigger, and positively prevents its actuation. Because its red head is visible on the weapon, it can be easily seen in the field that it is installed, and allows quick confirmation of the safety status of the weapon. Thus, in some embodiments, if the red thumbscrew is visible, the weapon cannot be fired.

Weapon is Unprepared and Unmodified

Generally speaking, once the universal trigger has been fitted to any weapon of a target weapon class, it may be installed on any specific, individual weapon of that class. The weapon generally does not need to be prepared in any manner. When the universal trigger is removed from the specific weapon, the weapon is completely unmodified by Universal Trigger and can be operated as usual.

Proof of Remote Firing

When equipped with the optional INU, the universal trigger can detect the weapon recoil upon firing, and thereby provide positive confirmation that the weapon has discharged.

Proof of Weapon Movement

When equipped with the optional GPS receiver, the universal trigger can periodically transmit its GPS location, or respond to a remote query with its current GPS location. In either case, the remote operating software can detect that the weapon has been moved and can aid in locating the weapon.

Proof of Weapon Handling

When equipped with the optional INU, the universal trigger can detect the weapon being handled as it's orientation changes, and thereby provide notification that the weapon has removed from a temporary or permanent fixed mount.

Configurable for Multiple Weapon Classes

The mechanical design of the Universal Trigger can be easily adapted to new weapons classes. While the main portion of the design remains substantially constant, the following properties can be configured to each weapon class:

-   -   Fitment to trigger guard     -   Placement of Safety Lock Thumbscrew to trigger

The software design of the universal trigger is also easily adapted to new weapons classes. The embedded software can include pre-flashed calibrations for all known weapons, which may be configured using the serial data stream or UDP data packets.

Enabler for Additional Technologies

The universal trigger can enable additional technologies, such as posting an unmanned weapon in the field, and remotely firing it upon desired conditions.

Mechanical Construction

The body of the assembly can include a small standoff, placing the main portion of the body away from the left side of the weapon. This allows the user to manually access weapon controls such as safety, rate of fire, etc. The right side of the body can be configured so as to not interfere at all with weapon access.

The body can attach to the weapon over the trigger guard using a spring mechanism. This design allows the universal trigger to fit to all individual weapons securely while allowing variances due to manufacturing tolerances, in both the weapon and the universal trigger

In one aspect, the left cover can be formed from plastic so that the universal trigger can receive GPS and radio signals.

Mechanical Components The body can be machined almost entirely from aluminum, with additional parts of steel. The body can include:

-   -   Servo to actuate trigger     -   Mechanism to support Safety Lock Thumbscrew     -   Single circuit board         -   Plug-in daughter board—GPS         -   Plug-in daughter board—INU     -   Military electrical connector         -   Power input (optional)         -   Serial data link—RS-232     -   Power-Over-Ethernet connector         -   Ethernet connection         -   Power supply (optional)

Electrical Construction

The aluminum body can contain a single circuit board, which can send and receive data on the serial or UDP stream. This can ensure the Universal Trigger transitions correctly between states, and provides data from the GPS and INU systems to the remote operator.

The main motherboard can carry two optional daughter boards, one for GPS and a second with an INU.

Electrical Interface

The aluminum body can contain two or more electrical connections:

-   -   an internal RJ-45 female connector, to which may be connected         either a         -   male Ethernet connector, or         -   male Power-Over-Ethernet connector.     -   an external “Electrical Interface Connector,” which can include         a metal military connector, containing pins for each of the         following         -   power, nominally 48 VDC         -   serial RS-232         -   dry contact inputs

Command Interface

In one aspect, there are three ways to command the universal trigger to change its state and actuate the trigger:

-   -   Dry contacts (no safety procedure)     -   Serial interface, ASCII command line     -   Ethernet with UDP, or telnet to command line

Testing

The universal trigger has been designed to fit to several classes of weapons. It has been tested on firing ranges with the following weapons:

-   -   Fired HK IAR M27 at Camp Williams     -   Fired M16 at Quantico, Va.     -   Fired M4 Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, IN

The universal trigger has been fitted but not tested with the following weapons:

-   -   P90

The exploded view shown in FIG. 13 includes major parts labeled as follows:

a) Controller Lid

b) Controller Base—holds the circuit boards

c) Actuator Stack

d) Compression lock

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for allowing remote triggering or firing of a weapon having a mechanical triggering or firing mechanism, the system comprising: at least one base, attachable to a weapon in a location adjacent a trigger of the weapon; at least one actuator, carried by the base, the actuator operable to engage the trigger of the weapon; and at least one wireless controller, operable to actuate the actuator, the wireless controller being accessible by a system remote from the weapon.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base at least partially covers the trigger to prevent access to the trigger by a user.
 3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second base segment, the second base segment cooperating with the base to substantially fully prevent access to the trigger by the user.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second base segment is positionable on one side of a trigger opening of the weapon and wherein the base is positionable on an other side of the trigger opening of the weapon.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is operable to mechanically repeatedly actuate the trigger of the weapon.
 6. A method of retrofitting a mechanically fireable weapon, comprising: obtaining the system of any of claims 1-5; and associating the system with the weapon.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising remotely communicating with the system to actuate the weapon. 